Utility Garment with Chest Access

ABSTRACT

A utility garment for minimally invasive access to the chest for pumping and breastfeeding. The utility garment has a partial central opening, a fastening apparatus, and a plurality of substantially leakproof panels. The garment is used by releasing the central fastening apparatus to reveal the chest area for pumping and breastfeeding. The garment is closed, and the panels substantially prevent leaks from showing through the front of the garment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/260,579 having a filing date of Aug. 25, 2021, and titled Utility Garment with Chest Access, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a top garment with utility features for those needing chest access. Specifically, the garment provides layers and opening configurations for pumping breastmilk and for breastfeeding while still providing modesty and comfort in professional and public settings.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Many women return to professional and public life weeks or sometimes days after giving birth, especially in modern society's work-from-home arrangements. Even after recovering from childbirth, women may desire to continue maintaining a supply of breastmilk for the newborn, infant, or toddler. This is more difficult when women maintain a job or participate in public life while needing to feed their child or pump milk throughout the day. For example, it may be necessary to pump or nurse at regular intervals such as for 10-15 minutes every two hours to maintain a steady supply of milk. During a regular workday, this means a woman may need to pump 4 or 5 times.

When breastfeeding a baby, usually access to one breast at a time is required. When pumping milk, access to both breasts is required, and equipment is needed. Pumping is achieved by attaching a suction device with a reservoir to each nipple. Manual pumping is achieved by squeezing the reservoir to create suction to draw milk. Some pump attachments with reservoirs may be connected to a machine that induces suction to draw milk. Some pumping attachments may be attached directly to the bare breasts, but some pumping attachments may be integrated into a bra that supports the breasts while providing modesty and access for pumping.

Another obstacle with pumping or nursing in general is the inevitable leak. Traditionally, nursing mothers may add absorbent pads to a bra to wick away milk that may leak from the nipple. The absorbent pads have limits and may still transfer liquid onto the front of the woman's shirt. In addition, absorbent pads are ineffective if the woman is wearing a pump-compatible bra due to drops or leaks still showing through the woman's shirt or dress.

While private areas such as dedicated nursing rooms are more widely available, women still have limitations regarding clothing comfort, utility, access, and neatness. Traditionally, women would access the chest and breast while draping a blanket or shawl over the chest. One breast is revealed from underneath or over a top garment. The blanket cover arrangement is not convenient and does not address the problem of needing to remove the entire blouse when pumping.

Some dresses and shirts are available to accommodate nursing mothers but are not compatible with pumping arrangements. Many of these nursing tops have side-access openings with a closure such a zipper to attempt to be discreet. These side openings provide limited access, are uncomfortable, and do not accommodate pumping attachments. Some tops may be fully unbuttoned or unzipped to expose the entire chest and stomach which leads to discomfort and unnecessary exposure. However, even full-access blouses do not provide any modesty panels or leak protection in a discreet manner.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

What is needed is a comfortable and professional garment that provides convenient access for pumping and nursing while preserving modesty when in an open configuration and wicking and concealing leaks while in a closed configuration.

In one embodiment, a garment is a shirt that comprises a plurality of substantially leakproof panels on the front interior side of the shirt, a partial central opening, and a fastening apparatus to close the partial central opening.

The panels have a top surface with an absorbent layer and a bottom surface with a laminate layer. The panels have perimeter seams such as flat lock seams along the garment neckline and up to the shoulder, down to the axillary area, and along the coordinating portions of the fastening apparatus. The panels span from the neckline to the bottom of the breast area and top of the stomach area, bisecting the garment between breast area and stomach area.

In an alternative embodiment, the garment is a dress, sweater, jumper, shell, tank top, or blouse.

In an alternative embodiment, the garment fastening apparatus coordinating portions on the right and on the left sides has boning for structural support to maintain the central opening in a triangular or diamond-shaped opening exposing the middle breast area while concealing breast cleavage and the upper chest area and concealing the stomach area.

Method steps provide for a garment having a plurality of panels on the inner side of the garment, a partial central opening, and a fastening apparatus to close the partial opening, opening said garment by releasing the fastening apparatus, grabbing each front side of the central opening away from the central opening, proceeding with a pumping or breastfeeding routine or ritual, concluding the pumping or breastfeeding ritual, and securing the fastening apparatus to close the central opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings that are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front and back view of an exemplary garment.

FIG. 2 illustrates the prior art.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up and a perspective view of the front interior side of an exemplary garment.

FIG. 4 illustrates the front of an exemplary garment in a closed configuration and in an open configuration on a wearer.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a back side, panels, and front side of an exemplary garment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exterior view and an interior view of an exemplary garment displaying liquid shielding.

FIG. 7 illustrates method steps for using an exemplary garment to provide access to breastmilk while maintaining modesty.

NUMERALS OF THE FIGURES

-   -   1. Garment     -   3. Panel     -   5. Shoulder area     -   7. Apex closure     -   9. Pleats     -   11. Back interior     -   13. Back exterior     -   15. Front exterior     -   17. Front interior     -   19. Neckline     -   21. Bottom seam     -   23. Fastening apparatus     -   25. Perimeter seam     -   27. Axillary area     -   29. Stomach area     -   31. Breast area     -   33. Bottom end     -   35. Right side     -   37. Left side     -   39. Boning     -   41. Fastening apparatus right coordinating portion     -   43. Fastening apparatus left coordinating portion     -   45. Closed configuration     -   47. Open configuration     -   49. Central opening     -   51. Pump     -   53. Panel top surface     -   55. Panel absorbent layer     -   57. Panel bottom surface     -   59. Panel laminate layer     -   61. Breast area with panel     -   63. Breast area without panel     -   65. No leak through     -   67. Leak through     -   69. Step 1     -   71. Step 2     -   73. Step 3     -   75. Step 4     -   77. Step 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides generally for garments worn by women who pump or breastfeed. The exemplary garments are especially useful for women in professional or public settings who need clean, convenient, professional-looking, and minimally invasive tops or dresses that can be worn while breastfeeding or pumping multiple times a day. The garments provide a partial opening at the front with tailoring sufficient to pull the garment open toward the axillary area and away from the central opening to reveal the nipple without revealing the entire breast or stomach. The garment may be worn with or without an additional nursing or pumping bra underneath the garment.

The garment has at least two panels integrated into the garment at a garment front interior on either side of a central opening. The panels are substantially leakproof. Drips and leaks are inevitable, so the panels wick away moisture while preventing leaks from showing on the outside, eliminating the need for backup clothing in case of accidental leaks and eliminating the need to wear uncomfortable absorbent breast pads.

The garment central opening has a fastening apparatus such as a zipper, hook-and-loop closure, adhesive, magnets, buttons, or snaps or combinations thereof. The central opening is partial with an apex closure at the neckline and a bottom seam below the breast area, so the garment opening will not unnecessarily expose the stomach. The central opening may have flexible wire or boning on either side of the opening to help keep the garment in an open configuration to minimize interference with pumping or breastfeeding.

Generally, the garment is worn as any other similar garment such as a short-sleeve shirt, tunic, shell, button-down, long-sleeve shirt,

In the following sections, detailed descriptions of examples and methods of the disclosure will be given. The description of both preferred and alternative examples is exemplary only, and it is understood that to those skilled in the art that variations, modifications, and alterations may be apparent. It is therefore to be understood that the examples do not limit the broadness of the aspects of the underlying disclosure as defined by the claims.

Detailed Descriptions of the Drawings

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a front side and back side of an exemplary garment is shown. Generally, the garment is constructed to resemble a top or a dress that is worn in a professional or public setting without signaling the garment is specifically for nursing or pumping. The garment has a central partial opening for easy and minimally invasive access to the nipples multiple times a day. The garment has a plurality of panels attached to the front interior side of the garment to substantially prevent leaks from showing on the front exterior of the garment.

The garment can be constructed from any commercially or traditionally used materials. Natural materials such as cotton and silk may be used for elegant, durable, and quality styling. The panels may be constructed from an absorbent material and may additionally contain a laminate to prevent leaks from permeating to the exterior.

In some embodiments, a garment having an interior and exterior with front and back sides. The front interior may have panels sewn into the garment. The panels may span from a neckline to a shoulder area, to an axillary area, and along a fastening apparatus that reveals a central opening. The panel surface area defines a breast area, bisecting the garment into a defined breast area above a stomach area at a bottom seam. The stomach area extends from the bottom seam down to the garment bottom end. The panel may have perimeter seams in a flat-lock stitch. The panel bottom seam may or may not be sewn into the garment front interior. However, the perimeter seams along the neckline, axillary area, and fastening apparatus are preferably sewn into the garment front interior.

The fastening apparatus has coordinating portions on the right and on the left of the fastening apparatus. The top of the fastening apparatus at the neckline has an apex closure. The bottom of the fastening apparatus is located where the breast area ends and where the stomach area begins, likely in parallel with the bottom seam of the panels.

A back exterior of an exemplary garment may have pleats near the shoulder area to provide comfortable slack and increased space in the breast area without making the garment bottom end too bulky or large.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , the prior art and its disadvantages are shown. The prior art shows pumping and breastfeeding where the traditional garment is completely open or unnecessarily exposes the stomach.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , an enlarged view and a perspective view of the front interior side of an exemplary garment is shown. Panels may have a trapezoidal, triangular, polygonal, or irregular shape. Panels may be flat or may have pocket space for additional padding, may have a molded shape, or may have a support or cupping structure. The panels may be fixedly attached or removably attached to or from the interior of the garment. The panels may be attached with sewn seams along with neckline and along the central opening and at the axillary area to minimize any appearance of the panel from the front exterior side of the garment. In alternative embodiments, the panels may be removably attached with hook-and-loop closure tape. The central opening may also have an apex closure in the form of a hook closure at the apex or a seam at the apex at the neckline. In preferred embodiments, the central opening is present at partial length or at full length of the garment.

Referring now to FIG. 4 , an exemplary garment in a closed configuration and in an open configuration is shown. In preferred embodiments, the garment has a professional appearance. The central opening and interior panels are substantially concealed. The garment may have tailoring such as incorporating pleats at the back exterior of the garment to provide additional room in the chest area for pumping bras, swollen breasts, and for additional fabric for convenient opening for sufficient nipple exposure while minimizing extra width or bulk in the shoulder area or in the garment bottom end.

In the open configuration, the right side and left side of the garment front side are pulled away from the central opening to expose the nipples in the breast area of the wearer for pumping with a pump or breastfeeding without additional unnecessary exposure. In some embodiments, the fastening apparatus along either side of the central opening may have a thin, flexible wiring or boning to aid with maintaining the garment in an open position without interfering with nipple access in the breast area while maintaining coverage of the upper chest and cleavage areas and stomach area. In preferred embodiments, the garment in the open configuration creates an upside-down triangle or diamond shaped opening with an apex at the neckline that widens to just below the breast area at the top half of the length of the garment and narrows at the bottom seam just above the stomach area.

Referring now to FIG. 5 , an exploded view of an exemplary garment is shown. Generally, a garment is made with a back side and a front side. The panels are attached to the interior of the front side and are not visible from the exterior of the garment. The front of the garment has a partial central opening with an apex closure at the neckline and a bottom seam below the breast area and just above the stomach area. The fastening apparatus has coordinating portions along either side of the central opening to facilitate closing and opening of the central opening to reveal or conceal the nipples for breastfeeding or for pumping.

The panels are substantially leakproof and may be constructed from natural fabrics such as flax or synthetic fabrics such as polyester and combinations thereof. Some fabrics may be laminated or have multiple layers. Exemplary panel material may comprise neoprene, polyurethane laminate, spandex, olefin fibers, vinyl laminate, modal, cotton blends, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the panels have a top surface of cotton and a bottom surface of polyurethane laminate where the top surface rests against the breast, and the bottom surface rests against the garment front interior.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , an exterior view and an interior view of an exemplary garment displaying liquid shielding is shown. Numeral 61 shows a breast area with panel that shows no leak through to the front exterior. Numeral 63 shows a breast area without a panel that shows leak through to the front exterior. In preferred embodiments, a panel can wick or absorb at least 0.5 mL of liquid and up to at least 4 mL of liquid without leak through to the front exterior.

Referring now to FIG. 7 , method steps for using an exemplary garment to provide access to breastmilk while maintaining modesty are shown. In step 1, the fastening apparatus is released to reveal a central opening. In step 2, the right and left sides of the fastening apparatus are pulled away from the central opening to expose the breast area. In step 3, the pumping or breastfeeding process, routine, or ritual begins while the top part of the chest and the stomach are concealed or not substantially visible. After the pumping or breastfeeding ritual concludes in step 4, the fastening apparatus is secured in step 5 to close the central opening. The central opening can be closed by pulling the right side and the left side toward the center and fastening the fastening apparatus to close the central opening

CONCLUSION

Several embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these details should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any disclosures or of what may be claimed.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in combination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Thus, embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the method steps depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the order show, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment providing breast access with minimal invasiveness during a wearer's breastfeeding or pumping, the garment comprising a back exterior, a front exterior, a back interior, and a front interior, a shoulder area, a neckline, an axillary area, a breast area, a stomach area, and garment bottom end, wherein the front exterior and front interior are divided into left and right sides of a fastening apparatus that extends from an apex closure at the neckline to a bottom seam, wherein the stomach area extends from the bottom seam to the garment bottom end, and wherein the breast area is defined by a placement of one panel attached to the left front interior of the garment and one panel attached to the right front interior of the garment, wherein the panels are sewn into the garment interior with flat-lock perimeter seams spanning along the neckline, along the shoulder area, along the axillary area, and along the fastening apparatus, wherein the panel bottom scams are not sewn into the garment, wherein the panels comprise a top surface with an absorbent layer and a bottom surface with a laminate layer, wherein the fastening apparatus is released to reveal a central opening shaped in a triangle or in a diamond to expose the breast area for pumping or breastfeeding rituals while simultaneously concealing the stomach area and upper chest area of the wearer during the pumping or breastfeeding rituals.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is a short-sleeve or sleeveless shirt.
 3. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment is a long-sleeve shirt.
 4. The garment of claim 1 wherein the panels comprise a substantially leakproof material.
 5. The garment of claim 1 wherein the fastening apparatus is a zipper.
 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the apex closure is a hook closure.
 7. A method of providing breast access with minimal invasiveness during a wearer's breastfeeding or pumping, while wearing a garment comprising a back exterior, a front exterior, a back interior, and a front interior, a shoulder area, a neckline, an axillary area, a breast area, a stomach area, and garment bottom end, wherein the front exterior and front interior are divided into left and right sides of a fastening apparatus that extends from an apex closure at the neckline to a bottom seam, wherein the stomach area extends from the bottom seam to the garment bottom end, and wherein the breast area is defined by a placement of one panel attached to the left front interior of the garment and one panel attached to the right front interior of the garment, wherein the panels are sewn into the garment interior with flat-lock perimeter seams spanning along the neckline, along the shoulder area, along the axillary area, and along the fastening apparatus, wherein the panel bottom seams are not sewn into the garment, wherein the panels comprise a top surface with an absorbent layer and a bottom surface with a laminate layer, the method steps comprising Releasing a fastening apparatus, Creating a vertical opening at the chest area, separating a front side of the garment into a right side and a left side, Pulling the right side and the left side away from the center, and Exposing the front breast area sufficient for nipple access for pumping or nursing.
 8. The method steps of claim 7 further comprising engaging in a pumping or breastfeeding ritual.
 9. The method steps of claim 7 further comprising pulling the right side and the left side toward the center and fastening the fastening apparatus to close the central opening. 